Registering device



Dec. 18, 1945. B. L. HARRIOTT REGISTERING DEVICE 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed March 19, 1 942 Dec. 18, 1945.

B. L. HARRIOTT REGISTERING DEVICE Filed March 19, 1942 2 Sheets$heet 2 HOURS INVENTOR E.L-HFIEEIUTT Patented Dec. 18, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REGISTERING DEVICE I Bernard L. Harriott, Lake City, Iowa Application March 19, 1942, Serial No. 435,373 3 Claims. (01. 235-122) The principal object of my invention is to provide a registering device which permits the computation of the total number of hours a motor has run on a given oil change: More specifically, the object of my invention is to provide a mechanical means for adding the total of the times of intermittent operation of a motor so that it is possible to tell when the time has arrived for changing oil or the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide atime registering device that is rugged, weatherproof, tamperproof, and one which may be attached to a tractor or the like and which is easily operated.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a time registering device that is extremely economical in manufacture, durable, and efficient in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of my device as it appears when secured to a motor panel or the like. v

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view, in partial cross. section, of my device with the rear cover plate removed.

7 Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the mechanical device.

Fig. 4 is a top, cross sectional view of the device taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the electric'al registering device for use on a tractor or the like having a battery and an electrical system.

Heretofore, it has been difficult for the owner of a tractor, small airplane, stationary motor or the like to ascertain when a motor has been run the specified number of hours necessitating an oil change. This is particularly difiicult where a tractor is used, inasmuch as the oil is supposed to be changed after approximately 120 hours of operation. A tractor is run for different periods of time each day and it is very diflicult for the farmer or user of the tractor to keep an accurate log of the number of hours the tractor has been run since the oil was last changed. This applies to all types of tractors, whether on a road grader, farm or the like. It is also difficult to tell the number of hours a small airplane motor has been in operation without keeping a written log of the number 'of hours in the air. I have overcome such disadvantages as will be appreciated and as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Referring to the drawings, I have used the numeral it to designate the front housing of my registering device which is closed at its rearward side through the medium of a back plate I I. The forward face of the housing I0, I will designate by the numeral I2. This housing In may be supported on a dash plate or the like l3 through the medium of any type of bracket member or lugs l4. Rotatably mounted against the face I2 and within the housing I0 is a ratchet disk 15 having about its forward peripheral edge a series of indicator numbers [6. These numbers should run from zero to one hundred twenty or the number of hours necessary for a particular type of motor. About the outer peripheral edge of the disk H: are the ratchet notches H which should equal the highest number of the indicia I6 plus one notch for a zero setting of the dial. The indicia I6 is visible through a window l8 cut in the face I2 of the housing Ii]. The disk 15 is held in yielding contact with its bearings through a spring washer l9 as shown in Fig. 4: of the drawings. The numeral 251 indicates a finger hole cut in the bottom portion ofthe housing ID. The numeral 2| indicates a trip member pivotally mounted within the housing It) and closing the opening as shown in Fig. 2. The upper end 22 of the trip 2| is reduced in size and bent upwardly to form the ratchet engaging and actuating pawl which engages the tooth members Il. Disposed between the member 22 and the housing I0 is a tension spring 23. On the other side of the pivot of the member 22 and formed on the trip member 2i is a ratchet stop 24. By this structure it will be noted that the operator of the device may insert his finger in the hole 20 and push upward on the trip 2| until one end of the trip contacts the housing as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. This action disengages the stop pawl 24 and permits the member 22 to rotate the disk 15 to the next succeeding number I 6 so that that number is visible through the aperture IS. The spring 23 then pulls the trip mechanism back to its closed position and the inherent spring of the element 22 forces this element into contact with the next tooth l1 preparatory to the next cycle of operation. I have used the numeral 25 to indicate a compartment formed in the housing l0 and closed by a cover member 26 for containing pencils, matches, or the like. The numeral 21 indicates frosted glass, slate or the like placed adjacent the aperture l8 for permitting the penciling in of any notes the operator wishes to make.

Referring to Fig. of the drawings, it will be noted that I have shown an electrical registering device having a housing 28, securing means or clamp 29 and containing an ordinary self-starting clock movement coupled to a registering dial 30 such as is used in speedometers, computors, or the like. The electrical terminals of this self-starting clock. movement, I have designated by the numeralsjl and '32, V, The contact BI is in communication with one side of a battery 33 of the vehicle, and the terminal 32 is in communication with the dead side of the ignition switch 34 which in turn is in communication with the other pole of the battery 33. Thus, wheneverthe switch 34 is closed, the clock movement within the housing 28 starts, causing the total number of hours of operation to be indicated on the scale 30. The numeral 35 indicates a frosted glass insert or the like on the forward .face of :the housing 28 for registering ,or noting the :total number of .hours indicated by the dial .Sfluat the last oil change.

In practical :use, the mechanicaldevice ill-ustrated in Figs. .-1, 2, 3, and 4, is mounted at a convenient location on the tractor or the like and the user of the tractor can log the number of hours of operation at anytime by .placing his finger on the actuating portion at the bottom of the device and which is in a concealed position, and pushing upwardly thereon. The device cannot be inadvertently operated or actuated by a curious person and furthermore, there are no openings for moisture to enter the housing and damage the device. The mechanism of the device is extremely simple-and there are no fragilepieces to become broken. The device will stand the jarring occasioned by use on .a tractor. The electrical device will automatically register the number of hours the tractor is operated and it is of par-' ticular advantage when the tractor is equipped I with a electrical system, as it requires no attention. The electrical mechanism provides an automatic computation of total hours the ignition switch is closed.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a registering device which fulfills all my objects and has manyobvious advantages.

Some changes may be made "in the construction and arrangement of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and its is myintention to cover by my claims any modification of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included their scope.

I claim:

1. In a device of'the class described, a housing,

an aperture in said housing, a disk element rotatably mounted in said housing, and having indicia thereon capable of registering with said aperture at times, a plurality of ratchet teeth on the outer peripheral edge of said disk, a finger hole in the bottom portion of said housing, a trip member rotatably mounted in said housing and normally covering said finger hole, an operating pawl on said trip member for engaging said ratchet teeth on said disk and rotating said disk when said trip member is manually operated, and a means for yieldingly returning said trip member to a closed position and move said actuating pawl into engagement with the next succeeding ratchet tooth, the operating pawl being in the form of a right angled member with a ratchet on one arm at an end above the trip member and a ratchet stop on the other arm 5 2. In a device of the class described, a housing, an aperture in said housing, a disk element rotatably mounted in said housing and having indic'ia thereon capable of registering with said aperture at times, a plurality of ratchet teeth on the outer peripheral edge of said disk, a finger hole in the bottom portion of said housing, a trip member rotatably mounted in said housing and normally covering said finger hole from the inside, an operating pawl on said trip member for engaging said ratchet teeth on said disk and rotating said disk when said trip member is manually operated, a means for yieldingly returning said trip member to a closed position and move said actuating pawl into engagement with the next succeeding ratchet tooth, and a stop lug on said trip member for engaging said ratchet -teeth and preventing counter rotation of said disk.

3. In a device of the class described, a housing, an aperture in the forward face of said housing, a disk element rotatably mounted in said housing and having a sequence of indicia about its for- V ward face marginal edge, a plurality of ratchet teeth about the peripheral edge of said disk, a manually operated push mechanism operatively mounted in said housing, an operating pawl on said push mechanism for engaging said ratchet teeth and moving said disk so that the next succeeding number is visible in said aperture when said push mechanism is operated, a means for returning said actuating pawl to engage with the next succeeding ratchet tooth when said push mechanism is released, and a stop element secured to said push mechanism for preventing counter rotation of said disk when said operating pawl is being returned; said push mechanism when .actuated moving said disk so that said indicia numbers appear progressively through said aperture.

BERNARD L. HARRIOTT. 

